SOLUTION: “W” is 3 years younger than “S”’s age. In five years, the sum of their ages will be nineteen. How old is “W” now?

Question 1169014: “W” is 3 years younger than “S”’s age. In five years, the sum of their ages will be nineteen. How old is “W” now?
Found 2 solutions by ankor@dixie-net.com, greenestamps:
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Write an equation for each statemen
:
“W” is 3 years younger than “S”’s age.
w = s - 3
In five years, the sum of their ages will be nineteen.
(w+5) + (s+5) = 19
w + s + 10 = 19
w + s = 19- 10
w + s = 9
from the first equation, replace w with (s-3)
(s-3) + s = 9
2s = 9 + 3
s = 12/2
s = 6 yrs old
therefore
w = 3 yrs old
:
How old is “W” now? 3 yrs old
:
Check; in 5 yrs w will be 8 and s will be 11, a total of 19
Answer by greenestamps(13203) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Very basic algebra: set up the problem exactly the way it is presented.

(1) W = S-3 (W is 3 years younger than S's age)

(2) (W+5)+(S+5) = 19 (In 5 years, the sum of their ages will be 19)

Use (1) to replace "W" in (2) with "S-3"; then solve using basic algebra.

A bit more advanced algebra: read the problem carefully to set up the problem using a single variable.

S = S's age
S-3 = W's age (3 years less than S)
S+5 = S'S age in 5 years
(S-3)+5 = S+2 = W's age in 5 years

The sum of their ages 5 years from now will be 19:

Again solve using basic algebra.

Using logical reasoning (doesn't give you practice with algebra; but it's good brain exercise)

Since the sum of their ages 5 years from now will be 19, the sum of their ages now is 9.

Now simply play with some numbers to find two ages with a sum of 9 in which the difference between the two ages is 3.

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